YOUTH CARE FUNDS ADVANCED

Despite budget shortfalls, funding for beds in Norman to treat
adolescent youths with substance abuse problems and in Tulsa to serve
addicted women in Tulsa are contained in the mental health bill going
to the governor, officials said Thursday. "The way it is now, an
addicted youth can't easily get a bed in Oklahoma for treatment so
they have to go out of state, if they can afford it," said Ben Brown,
deputy commissioner for substance abuse at the state Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services Department.

"You've got to address the whole family when there's an addiction," Brown said.

The No. 1 addiction among youths, particularly young males, is beer,
Brown said.

The new Norman center will have 20 to 24 residential treatment beds.
Brown said only 60 residential treatment beds are available for
adolescents in the state.

The center will be operated by the Norman Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Center. Finding money for the center was difficult during this tight
budget year, Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, said.

Hobson, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he
was able to help secure $385,000 for the project.

Brown said about $800,000 is needed to operate the youth center; the
rest of the money would be found by shifting federal funds.

Overall, the Mental Health Department will receive nearly $151
million, which includes an earmarked appropriation of $2.2 million
for a women's center in Tulsa.